When communicating with Sheng Shuihe that day, were there any flaws shown by me?

Xu Baomo's head moved back a little with a guilty conscience as the eyesight of Sheng Lanci seemed to indicate: “Stay away from my daughter”, “I have seen through your intention” and “I will kill you if you continue to seduce my daughter”. He thought that it was the first time that we had spoken without the third person! How could it be possible that I was caught by her father? And her dad would keep an eye on me?

Was that because the future father-in-law was well-informed and knew my true colors in such a short time?!

Xu Baomo had a premonition that his legs would be cut off by him….

But the truth was—

After a while, the father and daughter said goodbye to Xu Baomo. On their way back to Spring House, Sheng Weiqiao complained, “Dad, could you please don't think each young man with me has a crush on me, Okay? It's so embarra.s.sing!”

She inherited advantages of the appearance of her parents and was a little beauty with bright eyes and white teeth, but she never thought herself as so beautiful that each man would fall in love with her. Otherwise, why Xuanyu Che spoke rudely to her in public?

“Sweetheart, you were too young to know the inner sin of people!” Sheng Lanci rejected her daughter's request as usual and said in a sad voice, “We could see that Xu Baomo was a Young Lord with a handsome appearance. However, I wanted to tell you that the appearance might not be an indicator of his heart. He might not be qualified as a husband. Don't be coaxed by him!”

Sheng Weiqiao said angrily, “The reason why Brother Xu talked with me was that you and his father shared a close relations.h.i.+p. What are you thinking?!”

Since she was ten years old, if a teenager of similar age, except for servants, chatted and joked with her for a little while and Sheng Lanci happened to see that, the teenager will be put on his “jerk” list, even though they just talked on the street. Then, he would see him as a jerk aimed at his daughter and keep a close eye on him.

After Xuanyu Che bribed one servant of Sheng Family to pa.s.s a love letter to Sheng Weiqiao, Sheng Lanci realized that there were too many playboys aimed at his daughter!

Hearing his warning from time to time, she felt annoyed when he did that again.

“Be friendly to you and gradually make you be infatuated with him. I felt bored with such tricks in the early years!” However, Sheng Lanci did not feel bored to take actions! He said sincerely, “Sweetheart, you must listen to me and do not be fooled by these bad guys! Remember you are my only daughter….”

They entered the Spring House while speaking. Madam Feng was in the courtyard, waiting for them. A few quicker steps, she was near her mother. She complained loudly, “Mom! Dad just told me that he was bored with small tricks of seducing women in the early years! There must be many women seducing him. You must check that out, lest some other brothers are brought back someday!”

Stunned by what she said, Sheng Lanci thought: was she really my daughter?!

Looking at his lightning-struck face, Madam Feng couldn't help laughing. Nodding seriously, she replied, “OK! I will not let off him easily!”

Servants around them were also cheered by the family. After joking with each other, the three entered the house and sat down. Cups of tea offered, he took one, blew softly, and then put it down. Seriously, he said, “Father and mother visited a lot of people these days. Things happening on father's birthday will be handled completely in a couple of days! However, gossips among the public are out of our control. Never mind. We have no connections with them anyway!”

Speaking of this, he told Sheng Weiqiao, “Don't go out these days until the matter pa.s.ses completely!”

“When you are free to go out, there must be a lot of people talking about that.” Madam Feng reminded her daughter, “Just ignore and reply with what your dad has told you. Deny everything. If they continued to do so, save no face for them! We will undertake any result!”

If Mrs. Feng had known what they said, she would have sneered, “How many good things ancestors of Sheng Family had done! Such indulgence made no criminal!”

However, Sheng Weiqiao was accustomed to it and, as a matter of fact, the couple had never said any harsh words to her. She nodded peacefully and asked about her cousin, “Just now, she went to chase Little Jiuniang for me. Was she back home? I don't know whether my third uncle and third aunt will scold her or not.”

“Dad just told your uncle that there was no need to scold her since both of you had known your mistakes.” Sheng Lanci said to show what he had done, “Your third uncle will not scold her. If you are worried, just ask her tomorrow. My kind sweetheart, you always care about your sister!”

Getting used to her father's praise at every possible chance, she ignored his words. Cultivating emotions, she was going to complain about the experiences in the ancestral hall, while a male servant came in. He said, “Eldest Master, Madam, Second Miss, one servant of Senior Master came and told that there was something to consult with Eldest Master!”

Madam Feng said immediately, “Since father called you over, you should go immediately!”

Sheng Lanci was a little confused because he had gone to Jinxue House to speak with Senior Master Sheng as soon as he returned.

On the way back to Spring House from Jinxue House, one servant told him that his daughter was in the garden. It was his temporary decision to go to the garden where he saw Xu Baomo was coaxing his daughter. Why did Senior Master Sheng call him over?

It was him that had been taking care of the business of Sheng Family. If something had happened to the stores outside, the steward would have reported to him directly instead of seeking help from Senior Master Sheng.

Arriving at Jinxue House with confusion, he knew the reason that Senior Master Sheng called him over was related to what he had seen in the garden. Senior Master Sheng asked, “What were Baomo and Weiqiao doing in the garden?”

“What were they doing?” Sheng Lanci replied with confusion, “That guy was trying to seduce her obviously. Fortunately, I arrived on time. Why did you inquire about this?”

Squinting at him, Senior Master Sheng continued, “Are you sure that it was Baomo who was trying to attract her attention but not Weiqiao trying to coax him?”

Sheng Lanci felt a little annoyed, “Father?!”

Putting aside the fact that the sweet little girl was his daughter, Senior Master Sheng was his granddaughter. How could he see her like that?!

“It's because you praised her all the time. Without further inquiry, how could I know things you said to me were real?” Senior Master Sheng said with a snort, “It seemed to be true that Baomo liked her.”

He looked happy at the moment. He slapped on the thigh, saying joyfully, “Great! Old Xu! You have always been boasting your grandson. Now, your grandson was trying to have a closer relations.h.i.+p with my granddaughter?!”

Giving a thumbs-up to his dumbfounded son, he said, “My lovely granddaughter! Although she is a little self-willed, finicky, and arbitrary sometimes, people have their own preferences. It is her ability to make Old Xu's grandson get hooked on her!”

Sheng Lanci was opposed to that, saying, “Dad, can't you just speak with a conscience? My sweetheart is smart, filial, gentle, considerate, beautiful, and tolerant. Why did you only consider her as rude, arbitrary and a little arrogant?! She is your granddaughter. Should you describe her with harsh words?”

“Only family members here!” Said Senior Master Sheng, “Just you and me in the room. Don't be fake! I will describe her as smart, filial, gentle, considerate, beautiful, and tolerant in front of people outside of our family! Why on earth do you think that Old Xu was thick-skinned to have his grandson come here with me?!”

Grasping the underlying meaning, he said, “Wait! Dad, you mean… that guy came to our family…?!”

“Of course, for Weiqiao!” Senior Master Sheng replied, “When I was in Old Xu's family, could you guess what happened? He boasted his grandson Xu Baomo all the time. Saying that he had pa.s.sed the Autumn Exam, and Ningwei Marquis prevented him from partic.i.p.ating in the Spring Exam held in Chang'an at the beginning of the year, for fear that he became arrogant! He is only seventeen years old this year! With a handsome appearance, good shooting skills, and good study, he is even more mature than my grandsons!!!”

Speaking of this, he understood his father's meaning!

“So, dad, you thought no grandsons could compare with Xu Baomo. Then, my sweetheart was chosen by you to compete with Uncle Xu, right?” Sheng Lanci said with a deep sigh, “Then, Uncle Xu believed in your words and sent Xu Baomo here to chase her?!”

Seeing Senior Master Sheng nod proudly, Sheng Lanci said with fury, “I just told her that he had no good intention! Why didn't my sweetheart trust me?”

He was alert and said, “I will send him back tomorrow!”

Unable to convince his daughter, he could drive away those who aimed at his daughter!

Sheng Lanci felt thoughtful and far-sighted, and one potential enemy was eliminated. However, Senior Master Sheng said angrily, “How dare you!!!”

“Dad, I need you sane and sober!” Sheng Lanci reminded, “Despite the deep friends.h.i.+p between you and Uncle Xu, you can't sacrifice your own granddaughter! Baomo is not an honest man judged from his appearance. Do you really think he's suitable as a husband for my daughter? What's more, she is only thirteen years old and can get married several years later!”

“I don't care whether Weiqiao will marry into the Xu Family or not.” Senior Master Sheng said firmly, “You just cannot drive him away!”

Sheng Lanci was confused, “Why?”

Since Senior Master didn't mean to make Weiqiao marry into the Xu Family, why did he insist on leaving him here, coaxing Weiqiao when Sheng Lanci paid no attention to her?

“I felt happy when seeing Old Xu's favorite grandson chase my granddaughter. The sky seemed to be brighter. Your faces were even more pleasing in my eyes!” Senior Master Sheng stroke his beard with one hand, the other hand behind his back. Walking back and forth several times in the hall, he said, “When I lived in the Xu Family, that old guy took his grandson with him every day. He invited me either to make comments on his grandson's calligraphy, appreciate his grandson's painting, or to comment on his grandson's shooting skills.…”

Senior Master looked angrier and angrier while speaking, “What's more, playing chess, playing the Chinese piano, making tea, throwing arrows into pots, playing Chinese football, playing Chupu… The most hateful thing was…!!!”

— Every time Xu Baomo performed well, Xu Baoting smiled to Senior Master Sheng and added, “No! Not good enough! The performance was far worse than that of Old Brother Sheng's grandsons! By the way, why didn't you take some of your grandsons here to make him know more outstanding persons lest he felt arrogant!”

Under such circ.u.mstances, Senior Master Sheng felt like an arrow pierced through his heart….